The two men who robbed an elderly woman's house while she was being rushed to hospital have been given jail sentences.

Sentenced in Cambridge Crown Court yesterday (November 20) David Cooper, 52, and David Bowler, 65, had robbed the 83-year-old's house after she fallen ill and had been taken to hospital on July 16 last year.

The pair stole jewellery worth more than £7,500 that had belonged to the victim's late husband. They also took bank cards which they used to withdraw more than £900.

Police were only notified of the break in when a neighbour spotted the victim's patio doors had been smashed. Officers were then able to identify the two burglars from CCTV taken of them at various cash machines in Oadby, Leicester where they withdrew money from the victim's stolen bank cards.

David Bowler, who's car was traced from the victim's home to each of the cash machines used to withdraw cash from the victim's stolen bank cards (Image: Cambs Police)

Police were also able to trace Bowler's blue Peugeot 206 from the victim's home in Peterborough Road, Ailsworth near Peterborough to each of the cash machines used by the pair in Leciestershire.

Yesterday, Bowler, of Garden Close, Oadby, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to burglary and two counts of fraud by false representation at a previous hearing.

Cooper, of Duke Street, Nuneaton, was also jailed for three years after he was found guilty of burglary and two counts of fraud by false representation following a two-day trial at the same court last week.

David Cooper who was one of the burglers that stole over £7500 of jewellery from the victim's house after she had been rushed to hospital (Image: Cambs Police)

DC Justin Parr said: “Bowler and Cooper are lifetime criminals with more than 70 convictions between them.